Milkweed gin



Feb. 14, 1950 BERKMAN 7 2,497,532

MILKWEED GIN Original Filed May 15, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 B. BERKMAN Feb. 14, 1950 MILKWEED GIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 15, 1942 B. BERKMAN Feb. 14, 1950 IILKWEED GIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 15, 1942 B. BERKMAN IIILKWEED GIN Feb. 14,; 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 15, 1942 Patented Feb. l4, 19 50 2.497.532 v MILKWEED GIN Boris Berlnnan, Appleton, Wis., assignor to Milk- -weed ProductsDevelopment Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Original application May 15, 1942, Serial No.

443,086, now Patent No. 2,362,965, ama November 21, 1944.

Divided and this application December 2,1943, Serial No. 512,519

My present invention relates to a'milkweed gin for separating the component parts of the milkweed plant, and is a division of my copending application Serial No. 443,086 flied May 15, 1942, Patent No. 2,362,965 granted November 21, 1944.

The common milkweed is a hardy perennial plant, three to seven feet tall, having hollow woody stalks nourished by an extensive root system. The stalks bear from flve to thirty-five pods each which mature in the autumn in most parts of the United States.

Each milkweed pod contains a multitude of seeds by which the plant reproduces itself. Each individual seed is fitted with a group of seed hairs, forming a parachute," which because of its voluminous lightness, is caught by the breeze as the enclosing pod bursts, and is carried far from the plant. It is by this method that the milkweed plant scatters and spreads.

By much experimentation and research, I have found valuable uses to which the many parts of the milkweed plant may be put, and a study of the plant and its habits has given the clue to a successful method of separating the milkweed floss and seeds from the pods and from each other.

The method of liberating the valuable floss from the seeds and pods is an object of my invention. The method is accomplished in two steps: the separation of the floss and seeds from the pods; and the liberation of the floss from the seeds.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus for separating the floss and seeds from the pod and from each other.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for treating pre-cured milkweed pods to effect separation of floss and seeds from the pods and from each other.

- Another object of my invention is the provision of a means for the separation of pods, floss and seeds without the necessity of curing the pods to control their moisture content to 20 to 30 per cent. as has been heretofore necessary.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for collecting air-borne milkweed floss.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for separating the floss from the seeds wherein no moving parts came in contact with the floss to injure or break these delicate 6 Claims. (CI. 19-39) Fig. 1 is amelevational view of the apparatus used in carrying out the separation and collection of milkweed pods, seeds, and floss;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the pod separation and agitation chamber;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the floss.

and seed separation chamber;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows showing the details of construction of the rotary heaters;

Fig. 5 is a partial elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing an alternative form Fig. '1 is an enlarged view of a part of the threshing tube showing still another modification of the beating apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a partially sectional view of a modiflcation of the threshing mechanism andthe air flotation chamber;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the modified air flotation chamber taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and looking in the dire tion of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the lines l0l0 of Fig. 8 showing the details of the conveyor drive;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the lines ll-il of Fig.8; and

Fig. 12 is a flow chart illustrating how the apparatus may be adapted to the principles of continuous and mass production.

It has been found that the separation of the milkweed pods, floss, and seeds is best accomseeds would be carried away by the wind. The

pods had to be brought to the gin or drying house where the final curing was done.

.The curing or drying out process had to be carefully controlled so that the critical moisture point could be obtained. The process was neces-.

sarily time taking, and as the pods had to be spread out in racks, it was also space consuming. It was found that the drying out could be speeded up by passing heated dry air over the pods. But

this has a deleterious effect upon the seed germination reducing it as much as 20 per cent.

If the apparatus of this invention is used, the final drying out or curing may be dispensed with, and the pods are merely pre-dried suiflciently to prevent molding. The moisture content is no longer critical and the pods, floss, and seeds may be separated readily even though this moisture content be as high as 40 to 45 per cent. by weight.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows the entire apparatus of this invention. When the pods are removed from their stalks and received from the growers in pro-dried condition they are spread out in the storeroom i0. Leading from the storeroom is a large hopper l2 at the bottom of which is a control gate l4. The hopper l2 supplies pods to the agitation chamber l8 through .the smaller feed hopper l8. The chamber I8 is connected to the hopper l8 through gate 28. The chamber I8 is covered by a grate 22 at the top and a control valve 24 is placed at the bottom. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it has been found that an inverted conical or pyramidal shape is best adapted to the purposes of this invention, although other shapes may be used to considerable advantage.

A blower 28 of any standard type blows an air stream through the chamber l8 from the bottom and into duct 28 at the top of chamber 18. In operation the small hopper I8 is filled from hopper l2, the hopper l8 being of such a size that it will measure the proper amount of pods which can be handled at any one time in the agitation chamber I8. A valve 24 is placed between blower 28 and chamber l8 and adjusted so that the solid area 30 covers the inlet 32 to the bottom of chamber 18; gate 28 is opened and the hopper I8 empties its contents into the chamber IS. The blower 28 is started and the valve 24 is opened so that the small opening 34 registers with opening 32. The size of the opening is sufilciently small so .that the air stream directed into the chamber is similar to that emanating from a nozzle.

The pods are violently agitated and are knocked against the grate 22, each other, and the walls of the chamber l8 by the air stream. This agitation is of a character calculated to burst open the pods and to shake loose their content of floss and seeds. The floss and seeds thus freed are blown from the chamber l8 through the grate 22 and into the duct 28. The openings in the grate 22 are large enough to pass the seeds and floss but are small enough to retain the empty pods in the agitation chamher.

In order to prevent the pods from clinging to the grate 22 and sticking in its interstices I provide mechanism for vibrating the grate. The grate 22 is mounted on a strip 38 or is made integrally with the strip 38 which extends around its periphery. This strip rests upon at least two eccentrically mounted cams 38. Springs 48 dis- .posed between the grate 22 and angles 42 mounted on the walls of the duct maintain the grate 22 in contact with the cams 38. During the agitation of the pods the cams 38 are driven by a motor or other means not shown to give the grate 22 an up and down vibratory motion. This vibratory motion has the efiect of keeping the grate 22 relatively free from pods and permits the free passage of floss and seeds. If desired, other suitable forms of vibratory mechanisms may be used in place of that described.

It has been found that the freed floss and seeds have a tendency to collect on the top of the grate 22 and around its periphery. To prevent this a number of small air streams are introduced from the sides of the duct 28 and immediately above the grate 22. These air streams, in the embodiment illustrated, are fed from the blower 28. Between the blower 28 and chamber l8 9. union 44 is placed. An air scoop 48 diverts a small portion of the air from the stream created by the blower 28, which stream is conducted through pipe 48 to a conduit 58 which encircles the duct 28. A plurality of small holes 52 in the wall of duct 28 permits passage of air in small streams from the conduit 58 to the duct 28. These air streams enter duct 28 at substantially right angles to the course of the main air stream to dislodge any accumulation of floss and seeds. It is not necessary that these small air streams enter at right angles to the main air stream, and in some installations other angles may be more desirable.

After the floss and seeds have been completely freed from the pods they pass through the duct 28 to the thresher 54. When the blower 28 has blown the floss and seeds through the thresher, it must be turned off to permit removal of the empty pods. To accomplish this removal, the valve 24 is moved so that the large opening 58 registers with the opening 32; the chute 58 is moved to the dotted line position (Fig. 2) and the pods slip through the opening 58 and slide down the chute 58 to a waiting cart 88 in which they are gathered. The upper portion 58 of the chute forms a part of the wall of the blower pipe and when the chute 58 is moved to the dotted line position an opening 8| appears in the blower pipe. The pods are collected and saved as they have many commercial uses. The chamber I8 is now clean and ready for another batch of pods. In order to determine when the pods have been freed of their contents of floss and seeds, a window 80 may be provided in duct 28 so that the operator may determine at what time the agitation operation may be discontinued.

The freed floss and seeds are carried through the duct 2-8 under the force of the air stream from blower 28. Duct 28 is connected to a long cloth tube 82 which leads to a second chamber 84 through a duct 88. As the floss and seeds pass through the tube 82 under the force of the air pressure created by blower 28 they are subjected to the action of a plurality of heaters 88. The heaters 88 collapse the tube 82 and its contents and sufllciently agitate and work the floss and seeds against each other and against the wall of the tube 82 so that the seeds are gradually freed from the floss; the air pressure from the blower 28 also tends to keep the tube in its uncollapsed cdndition. This is a delicate operation as any beating of the floss and seeds in which the heaters impinge directly on the floss will crush, break, and destroy the delicate milkweed floss fibers. The floss fibers are springy and elastic, but if they are subjected to a direct mechanical threshing or beating, the bending and shearing stresses to which the floss is thus subjected substantially destroys the fibers.

The heaters 88 are driven by the motor 18 through a gear reduction box I2. As shown in one form of the invention, the heaters 88 are of the rotary type and each of those illustrated I to shaft 88. The shafts 84 are carried in suitable bearings 82 mounted in the standards 84. Two long shafts 88 are'driven from the gear box 12. At spaced intervals on shaft 88 are keyed or formed worms 88 which are in constant mesh with-worm gears 88. Each wormgear 88 opposite directions. to permit spacing the.

differential air flotation, is collected in the cloth bag 8. The heavier seeds fall down through the chute'I82. While .the air-flotation separationis being carried on.

chamber I8 may be cleaned out. The chute I8 is tilted into the dotted line positionfFig. 2) and the valve 24 moved to register the opening 82 and to prevent bunching of the tube 82. Even with this precaution the tube 82 will show signs of wear and it may be desirable to replace'it, The tube 82 is fastened to conduits 28 and 88 by removable fasteners 82 of any standard type. Therefore, in order to replace tube 82, all the operator needs to do is release the fasteners 82, take out the tube 82 and attach another tube; the fasteners 82 are then replaced. 7

In the chamber 84 the floss and seeds are gently agitated by an air stream created by the blower 84. This air stream is strong enough to carry away the floss, but the seeds fall from the center of the air stream to its sides and then fall down damaged so as 'to impair the value and usefulthe sloping walls of chamber 84 which may also have an inverted conical shape. Chamber 84 is provided with an annular opening 88 at its bottom formed around the blower pipe 98. The separated seeds slide down the sloping walls of chamber 84 through the opening 98, through the vertical duct 91 and flnally down the chute I82 into a suitable cart I84 or other receiving means. In this way the seeds are saved for further propagation of the milkweed plant or for the recovery of valuable oils.

The floss is blown out the top of chamber 84 after being separated from the seeds by the differential air flotation step just decribed. A grating I88 placed across the top of chamber 84 breaks up any large matting or collection of floss which might carry unseparated seeds from chamber 84. By taking steps to be sure that no single large accumulation of floss can pass from the chamber 84, it is possible to prevent any seeds being carried out accidentally. v

The air-borne floss is blown from the .chamber through duct I88 into suitable collecting bags II8. I prefer to have the collecting bag in a housing II2 equipped with a fine screen I I4. A

door H8 is provided in the housing II2 to permit the operator to remove and replace the bag II8 when it has been filled with floss.

Referring now to Fig. 1 a general description of the operation of my milkweed gin will be given. Pre-dried pods are collected in the storeroom I8 from which the large hopper I2 is filled. When the operator wishes to charge the gin with pods, he measures out a certain quantity in the feed hopper I8. The pods are fed into the agitation chamber I8 through gate 28. Blower 28 is turned on, the proper setting of valve 24 is made, and the pods are violently agitated until completely freed of floss and seeds. The floss and seeds are blown through the duct 28 into the cloth tube 82. As they pass through the tube 82 under the air pressure from the blower 28, they are subjected to the action of the beaters 88. The

action thus administered agitates the floss fibers I and seeds against each other and against the wall of the tube so that the floss and seeds are completly separated.

The floss and seeds are exhausted into the chamber 84 in which the floss is borne ofi by a 88 with opening 22. The empty pods then fall through the opening in the-bottom of the agi-' tatlon chamber I8 down chute 88 and into the cart 88.

The floss gathered in the bag H8 is perfectly freed of seeds andother impurities. The smooth. hollow, elastic flbers retain all of-their valuable characteristics, and are not bent, broken or or a screened opening I2I and the floss separated from the seeds by differential air flotation as before, the seeds dropping down the chute I82. The housing I22 in which the bag H8 is placed must be air-tight, and the door I24 sealed against leaks. This principle of operation in this embodiment of my invention is the same as that of the apparatus described in connection with Fig. 1.

In Fig. 6 I have shown another method of arranging the threshing unit, only a fragmentary section of tube 82 being shown. The tube 82 is compressed and expanded under the action of rollers I38 which are given a vertical motion by the cams I32. Cams I32 are keyed to shafts I34 which may be driven in a manner similar to the shafts 88. Rollers I38 are journaled in the ends of actuating rods I38 which have cam follower rollers I38 at their opposite extremities. The rods are guided in sleeves I 48 and each rod 138 is provided with a shoulder I42. The sleeves I48 are provided with ofiset bearing portions I44 at each end, and a spring I48 is held between the portion I44 and the shoulder I 42 to maintain the cam followers I38 on the cam surface.

The operation of the heaters may be staggered so that no two adjacent beaters will completely compress the tube 82 at the same time. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 the beaters may be spaced closer together than the rotory heaters 88 and the length of tube 82 may be shortened or more beaters used for the same length of tube.

InFig. l the tube 82 is compressed against a rigid backing I58 by beaters I52 which may be driven as shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 6. The backing I88 may be provided with offset portions I54 to cooperate with the heaters I52. The principle of operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 6 and '1 is identical with that shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 8 to 11 I have shown a further modification of my invention in which a pair of con-- veyor belts I88, I82 are substituted for the tube 82. The belts I88, I82 run between side plates I84 to prevent the escape of floss and seeds to the sides. The duct 28 is welded or riveted to the side plates I84 at I88; duct 88 is welded or riveted to the side plates I84 at I88.

The conveyor belts I88, I82 are driven through sprockets I18 and drive chains I12 by the same motor 18 that drives the shafts 88. The spockets I18 drive pulleys I14 and both are mounted on shafts I18. Idler pulleys I18 mounted on shafts I88 are provided at the opposite end of the conveyor system. To aid in maintaining the cond the air-home floss 7 veyorbelts in flat condition perpendicular to th direction of travel each set of pulleys is separated by a drum I82. Each drum I82 is provided with a flange I84 to which pulleys "8 may be bolted or riveted as at I88 (Fig. 10). It is possible to fit the conveyor belts with thin slots running across the width of each belt also to prevent buckling of the belt across its width.

Each conveyor belt I60, I62 is fltted with cords I90 at the outside edges to act as a seat in cooperation with the side plates I64. Cords I90 also provide the driving means and pass over the pulleys I18 (Fig. 10). The side plates I64 have a turned in portion I 92 at top and bottom to limit the vertical movement of the belts. It is not important that this assembly be air-tight because the floss and seeds are transmitted through the thresher by the belts and not by the air pressure supplied by the blower 26.

The'beaters 68 in this .iorm of the invention are substantially similar to those in the form illustrated in Fig. l. Theyare driven by the shafts 86 and worm and gear drives 88, 90. Each beater is provided with the rollers I4 which act on the reverse faces of the belts I60, I62. As the conveyor belts I60, I62 carry the floss and seeds they are beaten and the space confined by the belts is compressed and expanded under action of the beaters 68. The floss that is delivered to the chamber 64 is thus freed of seeds. The beaters 68 are designed to fit between the side plates I64.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of airflotation chamber I94 which is similar to the air flotation chamber 64. It is shown in the form of an inverted cone and is covered at the top with a grate I96. A blower I98 blows an air stream into chamber I94 through pipe I99. The seeds drop from chamber I94 through the duct 200 surrounding pipe I99 down the chute 202 and into the cart 204.

At the top of chamber I 94 and around its outer periphery there are formed a number of blades 206 which resemble a turbine. Completely enclosing the blades 206 is a duct 208 which may be welded to the chamber I94. This duct is connected to blower I98 through the pipe 2 I 0. When the blower I98 is in operation a portion of the air stream will be diverted through the pipe 2I0 into the duct 208. The blades 206 direct this secondary air stream into the chamber I94 on a plane perpendicular to the main air stream. The two air streams form a current in which the floss and seeds are given a circular motion. The seeds being heavier than the floss are carried to the outside of the circular current and drop out of the main current and down the sloping walls. The relatively light floss gravitates to the center of the circular stream and into the path of the vertical air current. The floss is borne of! through the duct 2I2 and may be collected in the bag I I0 as has been heretofore described.

It is apparent that the disclosures made herein may be subjected to certain modifications which do not depart from thescope and spirit of the invention. For instance, it is possible that the upper conveyor belt I62 (Fig. 8) be replaced with a single plate such as that disclosed in Fig. 7. The plate would cooperate with or be made integral with the side plates I64 to form a deep channel section. The floss and seeds would be carried by the belt I 60 through the channel and the heaters 68 would thresh the floss and seeds against the top of the channel section.

. The apparatus of the present invention is par- 1 a ticularly adapted to commercial usage in mass production. Fig. 12 diagrammatically illustrates a typical mass production layout. As is noted from the foregoing description of the apparatus, there are only two operations which are not continuous. These are the steps of the pod separation and the floss collection. The other steps are adapted to becontinuous.

As shown in Fig. 12, a single large hopper 2" may supply the. pod separators 2I8 through control gates 2I6. The-pod separators 2I8 discharge the freed floss and seeds through a conduit union and then into the thresher 220. It is readily seen that any one or more of the pod separators 2I8 may be cut out of the mass operation by closing its gate 222. The air-borne floss is taken from the separator 224 to the collectors 226. Any one of the collectors 226 may be cut out oi the operationby closing its control gate 228 so that the collection bags may be replaced.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, wish to be limited only by the claims. What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for separating the pods, seeds, and floss of the milkweed plant, an agitation chamber, a second chamber, threshing means disposed between said agitation chamber and said second chamber, means connecting said agitation chamber, said threshing means and said second chamber, and moving air means adapted to separate the floss and seeds from the pods in said agitation chamber and for carrying them through said threshing means to said second chamber.

2. In an apparatus for separting the pods, seeds, and floss of the milkweed plant, an agitation chamber, threshing means, duct means connecting said agitation chamber to said threshing means, means for introducing an air stream into said agitation chamber to carry the seeds and floss through said threshing means, a second chamber connected to said threshing means, moving air means in said second chamber adapted to separate the floss and seeds, and means for collecting the air-borne floss.

3. In an apparatus for separating the pods, seeds, and floss of the milkweed plant, an agitation chamber, a second chamber, threshing means disposed between said agitation chamber and said second chamber and operatively connected thereto, means to introduce an air stream into said agitation chamber to separate the floss and seeds from the pods and to carry the floss and seeds through the threshing means to exhaust them into said second chamber, means for collecting air-borne floss, and moving air means adapted to carry the air-borne floss from said second chamber to the collection means.

4. In an apparatus for separating the pods, seeds, and floss of the milkweed plant, an agitation chamber, a second chamber, a collapsible tube disposed between said agitation chamber and second chamber and connected to both said chambers, means disposed adjacent said tube to collapse it intermittently, means for introducing a stream of air into said agitation chamber to carry buoyant material from said agitation chamber through said tube and into said second chamber.

5. In an apparatus for the separation of the pods, seeds, and floss of the milkweed plant, an agitation chamber, a second chamber, a collapsible tube disposed between said agitation chamber and said second chamber and connected at its ends to both said chambers, beaters disposed adjacent said tube to collapse it intermittently, means to agitate the pods and seeds in said agitation chamber and to carry the floss and seeds through said tube to said second chamber, collection means, means connecting said second chamher and said collection means, and means connected to said second chamber and arranged to pass an air stream therethrough, thereby to separate the floss from the seeds and to carry the floss from said second chamber to said collection means.

6. In apparatus for the separation of the pods,

seeds, and floss of the milkweed plant, an agitation chamber in which the pods are agitated to cause them to burst open and discharge the floss and seeds, a grate at the top of said chamber, means for vibrating said grate, an air flotation chamber, threshing means disposed between and connecting said agitation and air flotation chambers, said threshing means including a collapsible tube through which floss and seeds are adapted to be passed, a plurality of beaters arranged adjacent said tube, means cooperatively associated with said heaters for collapsing said tube alternately at spaced points, means for introducing an air stream into said agitation chamber beneath said grate and for directing said air through said tube to tend to maintain the tube in uncollapsed condition and to effect the flow of floss and seeds into said flotation chamber, means connected to said last named means for passing a plurality of small air streams into said agitation chamber perpendicular to said first mentioned air stream and immediately above said grate, whereby said plurality of air streams and the vibration of the grate prevent the collection of floss and seeds on said grate, means for passing a stream of air through said flotation chamber for bearing oil the floss by differential air flotation in said chamber, and means adjacent the bottom of said flotation chamber enabling removal of seeds from said chamber.

BORIS BERKMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 54,625 Town May 8, 1866 233,847 Groom Nov. 2, 1880 577,115 Schmelzinger Feb. 16, 1897 1,071,022 Berger Aug. 26, 1913 2,090,955 Taylor Aug. 24, 1937 2,233,156 Berkman Feb. 25, 1941 2,244,20 Kern June 3, 1941 2,259,830 Osborne Oct. 21, 1941 

